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SINGER
/ SONGWRITER /
PRESENTER
ON PAUL KELLY LYRICS |
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"Frank
Jones sings songs about people that walk down
the same streets I do, cross the same rivers,
drink the same brand of beer. Frank writes locally,
which makes him a truly international writer.
I know the people in his songs. I know their heartache
and heartease."
- Paul Kelly. |
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Frank Jones
has been a songwriter since the age of 16. He says he
writes songs in bed (while he should be waking up),
in the shower (while he should be conserving water)
and while he's driving (while he should be, well, driving).
After completing an Architecture degree, Frank started
his first band, the punk rock MOOMBA
VICTIMS. This lead to the rock influenced
FRANK JONES AND THE WHOLE TOWN, which was followed
by his most successful and influential musical outing,
the legendary folk rock band THE
WHIRLING FURPHIES. It was on the FURPHIES'
first album LIZARD TREE
that Frank's iconic song about Melbourne and it's infamous
river, MY BROWN YARRA was
first released and in many ways it has become Melbourne's
unofficial anthem. |
| Frank's
five CD releases have all been well received
by critics and the public alike and many of
his songs have had regular radio airplay.
These days Frank concentrates on the songwriting
side of the industry, writing songs for other
recording artists, and writing mostly contemporary
pop songs. |
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has a songwriting deal with Mushroom Music
Publishing and has recently had success
with one of his songs, HE
LOVES ME NOT, on RENEE
GEYER'S latest
album. Frank's songs have been included on
several ABC Records compilation
albums and many have been performed and recorded
by other artists. He performs the title track
on the CD STORIES OF
ME - A SONGWRITER'S TRIBUTE TO PAUL KELLY.
Frank has a range of presentations and workshops
(including performance) for secondary students
based around songwriting, particularly the
lyric side of songwriting. One of the presentations
is based around Paul Kelly's
DON'T START ME TALKING book of lyrics
which is on the 2006 VCE English reading list.
Frank lives in Northcote, Melbourne with his
wife, two children, a young dog and an old
cat. |
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Visit Frank's website: www.frankjones.com.au
"Our Year 12 students were gripped by Frank Jones' neatly structured presentation. As well as performing an apt selection of Kelly songs (and sometimes actively involving his audience), Jones offered some analysis of each song's salient musical, lyrical and thematic features, in a relaxed and accessible style.
"A student commented after the session 'Now I really see how I could write an essay on the Kelly songs. I can't wait to study them'. This presentation offers an excellent introduction to the study of Kelly's lyrics and I would recommend it to other schools."
- Anna Symes, St Leonard's College.
"Not
only was the singing great, the explanation of
the craft of song writing was really clear. Frank
engaged his student listeners who came to understand
that it is possible to write a song out of everyday
experiences."
- Heather Heraud, Alphington Grammar School.
"A
remarkably mature singer/songwriter É A thoroughly
convincing Australian voice."
-
Folk Roots Magazine, UK.
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